Posted by andyb on March 02, 2009 at 08:46:07 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Re: Four firs that used to be in a wood posted by Mike Field on March 02, 2009 at 07:17:28:
Well I do actually and so should you. Otherwise, three oaks would do as well. One of the pleasures of AR is the way he brings a landscape to life through accurate observation and careful description. Firs are evergreen and would have had needles on them. If the tree in the picture they were firs they would be dead.
Like you, I find that, 'four firs in what used to be a wood' evokes a viviid image. My image is very different to yours but I would argue, closer to AR's. If AR had wanted us to imagine 4 larches he would have written 'four larches'. In leaf, larches have needles that are a much lighter green than firs and to me, at least larch woods appear more light hearted than sombre firs.
So if you care about AR and the way he can re-create a landscape in your head, you should care whether the trees are firs or larches. He would have.